Rich base of MINERAL RESOURCES in
the Amazon rainforest,
IRON is most abundant.
It is exported for steel making.
Gold, platinum, copper, lead and bauxite for ALUMINIUM.

Demand for TROPICAL HARDWOODS like ROSEWOOD and MAHOGANY.
Random logging means means for every tree cut down, at least 30 more may be destroyed in the process.

Since 1950, TWO THIRDS of the Amazons LOWLAND FOREST have been turned into PASTURE.
In the last 10 years an area the size of PORTUGAL has been cleared.

Sinze the 1970sm the Brazillian government have encouraged landless people to live in the rainforest.
This means people clear the forest for sustinence farming.